Comments on: Is depression sane?

By: Will

Will — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:48:00 +0000

Lili–

I find it so gratifying that you explore my writings the way you do. I reread the post you commented on, and find it overly dense. It needs rewriting, but I do stand by its basic points. I am glad that you agree with them, because it gives me confidence that it might make sense to revise that piece and repost it. I imagine few readers had the perseverance to make it through its prolix flow. (I love the word prolix; it so perfectly captures the fault in my writing. My English professor in college characterized my work that way–forcing me to look up the definition–and I just can’t seem to change. But at least I know what I need to work on…) Thank you, as always, for taking an interest.

–Will

By: Lili

Lili — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:28:39 +0000

There are so many things going wrong in this world….heck yes depression is sane. I’d worry if people weren’t experiencing depression. Look how far: don’t worry be happy- has gotten this world?

Sometimes it’s when we fight our greatest depression that we work the hardest to help ourselves and thus this world. Your post is this very example Will.

By: Will

Will — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:28:16 +0000

I just looked at the book description. Harold’s story sounds all-too-typical for those of us afflicted with serious emotional struggles. Harsh, violent, and grief-stricken childhoods lead to frightened, angry, and sad adults. Those who are fortunate, like Harold and probably me, find something to cling to and give their lives meaning. In the best case, they do as he has, and spread their acquired wisdom to help others in like straits. Tragically, I suspect the number that ‘make it’ is dwarfed by the number that don’t. I have a close family member who has suffered a lifetime of sorrow and self-perpetuated trauma because of low self-esteem and the lingering effects of mistreatment in formative years. We can all find countless examples of this outcome, just by traveling the streets of any urban area in the US. That the abuse during upbringing is all-too-often followed by labels, stigma, and discrimination in adulthood just adds to the injustice. The next time my budget is ready for a book purchase (I bought four texts at the start of August in order to learn how to manage and customize my website), I will send out an order for Harold’s book. Thank you for guiding me to it. Once I read the whole story, I am sure a blog post will result.

By: Marian

Marian — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:03:37 +0000

Will: Here's the direct link to the page about Harold's book: http://www.strategicbookpublishing.com/GodAreYouMadAtMe.html.

By: Will

Will — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 14:19:57 +0000

I so understand this sentiment. The only thing that has worked for me is to quit trying to 'be happy' and accept that I often am not. Once I own my sadness, validate it, quit criticizing it or trying to murder it, the emotion becomes less of a torment. You might look at my essay 'Is Depression Sane' (It seems almost arrogant to offer something I wrote as an aid to others--especially since I am so messed up--but since most of my philosophy comes from seeds planted by others, I do it anyway). Also, my guess is that your past, like mine, brought trauma and/or hardships that damaged your ability to really enjoy life. So echoing that societal message "why can't [you] just be happy with all the...", may overlook some of the grief your soul endures.

By: mysadalterego

mysadalterego — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 11:12:15 +0000

A lot of this really resonated with me. Everything looks so perfect on the outside…so why is it so bad inside? Why can’t I just be happy with all the luck I’ve had and breaks I’ve had in life?

By: Freedom from Cymbalta, Flights of Fancy, and Highfalutin Philosophy « WillSpirit

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 05:49:53 +0000

[...] computers connect with my site will drive me (even more) nuts. Still, I noticed that my post ‘Is Depression Sane?‘ has been viewed two-and-a-half times as often as any other. This strikes me as great news, [...]

By: Will

Will — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 03:34:35 +0000

It is always nice to hear your comments, Freda. You were one of the first to find my blog (and among the not-so-many reading it even now). A regular treat is something I will try to establish.

By: Will

Will — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 03:32:58 +0000

Harold, thank you for your comment. I tried to follow the link to your book, but it did not go through (only to SBP), and I also could not locate it on SBP. Maybe you want to post another link here, so folks can check out your treatise?

By: Will

Will — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 01:25:58 +0000

Sorry San. Been out all day. I need to set things up so comments go straight to ‘publish’. For a while I was getting flooded with spam. Sometimes every post I’d made so far (fortunately not that gigantic of a number since I just launched at May’s end, and ramped up in July) would get a spam comment in one blast. Now I’m using a couple of anti-spam systems, so it’s better. Thank you for checking out my site, and writing your lovely observations.